Not everyone is an IDP, say Jalozai camp officials
Tribesmen from Landi Kotal protest after being refused registration as internally displaced.
NOWSHERA:
Zakha Khel tribesmen from Landi Kotal, Khyber Agency hurled stones at the Provincial Disaster Management Authority’s (PDMA) office at Jalozai Camp after officials refused to register them as IDPs.
Two women were injured and six others were arrested when the police resorted to baton-charge, officials said.
PDMA official Khalid Usman said that around 200 tribesmen of Zakha Khel protested when the authorities refused to add their names to the list of IDPs. “Only people from areas struck by military operations are registered,” said Usman. “There was no such military operation in Landi Kotal nor has the government decided to launch one.”
The tribesmen were asked to return to their areas to get verification letters and a notification from the political administration officials stating clearly that they should be enlisted as IDPs at the camp. “We registered only those who had official letters from the government,” he said.
PDMA official Faiz Muhammad said that the listing of the Zakha Khel tribe from Bara was in process when members of the Landi Kotal-based Zakha Khel tribe came in, resulting in a scuffle began between the homonymous tribes.
“The tribesmen from Landi Kotal wanted to be registered along with those from Bara. There is procedure to be registered an IDP,” Muhammad said.
An official of the political administration office Landi Kotal Shah Saaz said that they did not notify anyone to enlist themselves at the Jalozai Camp. “The situation in the subdivision is peaceful,” said Saaz.
Zakha Khel tribesmen from Landi Kotal, Khyber Agency hurled stones at the Provincial Disaster Management Authority’s (PDMA) office at Jalozai Camp after officials refused to register them as IDPs.
Two women were injured and six others were arrested when the police resorted to baton-charge, officials said.
PDMA official Khalid Usman said that around 200 tribesmen of Zakha Khel protested when the authorities refused to add their names to the list of IDPs. “Only people from areas struck by military operations are registered,” said Usman. “There was no such military operation in Landi Kotal nor has the government decided to launch one.”
The tribesmen were asked to return to their areas to get verification letters and a notification from the political administration officials stating clearly that they should be enlisted as IDPs at the camp. “We registered only those who had official letters from the government,” he said.
PDMA official Faiz Muhammad said that the listing of the Zakha Khel tribe from Bara was in process when members of the Landi Kotal-based Zakha Khel tribe came in, resulting in a scuffle began between the homonymous tribes.
“The tribesmen from Landi Kotal wanted to be registered along with those from Bara. There is procedure to be registered an IDP,” Muhammad said.
An official of the political administration office Landi Kotal Shah Saaz said that they did not notify anyone to enlist themselves at the Jalozai Camp. “The situation in the subdivision is peaceful,” said Saaz.